Table 1.
Characteristics at the time of initial abnormal VUS, overall and according to initial and follow-up VUS interpretation.
| Initial VUS interpretation | Follow-up VUS interpretation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic at the time of initial VUS |
All patients (n=42) |
Active arteritis (n=36) |
Hyperechoic wall thickening without active arteritis (n=6) |
Active arteritis (n=10) |
Hyperechoic wall thickening without active arteritis (n=14) |
No arteritis (n=18) |
| Age, years | 72.5 (66.6-78.2) | 72.5 (64.9-78.0) | 73.4 (68.8-78.4) | 72.5 (69.4, 77.2) | 74.2 (68.8, 79.8) | 70.8 (61.6, 77.8) |
| Female | 71.4 | 66.7 | 100.0 | 60.0 | 78.6 | 72.2 |
| White | 69.1 | 63.9 | 100.0 | 70.0 | 64.3 | 72.2 |
| Symptom duration | ||||||
| Less than 1 week | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.6 |
| 1-3 weeks | 11.9 | 8.3 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27.8 |
| ≥3 weeks | 73.8 | 75.0 | 66.7 | 80.0 | 92.9 | 55.6 |
| Unclear | 11.9 | 13.9 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 7.1 | 11.1 |
| Clinical features at time of symptom onset | ||||||
| Headache | 35.7 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 30.0 | 42.9 | 33.3 |
| Fever | 14.3 | 11.1 | 33.3 | 20.0 | 14.3 | 11.1 |
| Jaw claudication | 31.0 | 33.3 | 16.7 | 10.0 | 50.0 | 27.8 |
| Temporal artery tenderness | 21.4 | 22.2 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 14.3 | 27.8 |
| Scalp tenderness | 21.4 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 28.6 | 22.2 |
| Fatigue | 33.3 | 30.6 | 50.0 | 10.0 | 28.6 | 50.0 |
| Weight loss | 16.7 | 16.7 | 16.7 | 40.0 | 7.1 | 11.1 |
| Transient vision loss | 9.5 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 21.4 | 5.6 |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica | 33.3 | 30.6 | 50.0 | 0.0* | 35.7* | 50.0* |
| GCA diagnosis prior to initial VUS | 28.6 | 30.6 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 14.3 | 44.4 |
| CRP, mg/L (median, IQR) | 28.8 (8.4-87.6) | 29.0 (8.4-89.3) | 22.9 (3.3-38.0) | 69.3 (5.7, 215.7) | 27.8 (10.4, 51.1) | 30.6 (3.3, 81.9) |
| ESR, mm/hr (median, IQR) | 59 (34-90) | 59 (34-91) | 50 (31-78) | 77 (71, 85) | 49 (34, 95) | 55 (26, 68) |
| Current glucocorticoid use | 69.1 | 69.4 | 66.7 | 50.0 | 71.4 | 77.8 |
| Prednisone equivalent daily dose** | ||||||
| Low (>0 to 15mg) | 37.9 | 36.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 50.0 |
| Moderate (≥15 to 40mg) | 17.2 | 16.0 | 25.0 | 20.0 | 10.0 | 21.4 |
| High (≥40mg) | 44.8 | 48.0 | 25.0 | 80.0 | 50.0 | 28.6 |
| Prednisone duration** | ||||||
| >0 days to <1 week | 34.5 | 36.0 | 25.0 | 60.0 | 40.0 | 21.4 |
| ≥1 week to <3 weeks | 3.5 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| ≥3 weeks | 62.1 | 60.0 | 75.0 | 20.0 | 60.0 | 78.6 |
| Methotrexate use | 9.5 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 16.7 |